Automatically-cleaning sanitary module comprising a bowl and a seat back that are tiltable

ABSTRACT

An automatically-cleaning sanitary module comprising: a structure; a toilet bowl pivotally mounted on the structure to pivot about an axis between a utilization position and a cleaning position; a seat back pivotally mounted on the structure above the bowl to pivot about an axis between a utilization position and a cleaning position; and a control mechanism for causing the bowl and the seat back to pass from the utilization position to the cleaning position, and vice versa, the control mechanism comprising: a motor coupled in rotation to the seat back; and a transmission coupling the seat back in rotation to the bowl.

The invention relates to an automatically-cleaning sanitary module of the type suitable for being installed in public places and in which cleaning operations are caused to be performed automatically, as soon as the departure of a user is detected.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In general, this type of module comprises:

a structure;

a toilet bowl pivotally mounted on the structure to pivot about an axis between a utilization position and a cleaning position;

a seat back pivotally mounted on the structure above the bowl to pivot about an axis between a utilization position and a cleaning position; and

a control mechanism for causing the bowl and the seat back to pass from the utilization position to the cleaning position, and vice versa.

A sanitary module of this type is described in the French patent application published under the No. FR-2 635 131 in the name of the Applicant, and also in the corresponding US patent granted under the No. U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,069.

Such a module is driven from its utilization position to its cleaning position by a single motor and gearbox unit operating via a grooved cam disk to actuate a lever hinged on a stationary shaft and controlled by a wheel traveling in the grooved cam, with a connecting rod driven by the lever serving to pivot the seat back.

That module gives full satisfaction. Indeed it has been used to equip numerous public washrooms. Nevertheless, the inventors have sought to provide improvements to that type of module, in order to reduce its size and weight, and in order to simplify its drive.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the invention provides a sanitary module of the above-specified type, in which the control mechanism comprises:

a motor coupled in rotation to the seat back; and

a transmission coupling the seat back in rotation to the bowl.

As a result, the rotary movement of the motor is transmitted to the bowl via the seat back. This leads to a substantial saving in weight and in space, and to a drive that is simplified.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and advantages of the invention appear in the light of the following description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 to 6 are views of a sanitary module of the invention shown in its utilization position:

FIG. 1 is a three-quarters front perspective view of the left side;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the left side;

FIG. 3 is a three-quarters front perspective view of the right side;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the right side;

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the front; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view from above;

FIGS. 7 to 9 are views showing the sanitary module of FIGS. 1 to 6, shown in an intermediate position between its utilization position and a cleaning position:

FIG. 7 is an elevation view of the left side;

FIG. 8 is an elevation view of the right side; and

FIG. 9 is a three-quarters rear perspective view of the right side;

FIGS. 10 to 12 are views of the sanitary module of FIGS. 1 to 9, shown in its cleaning position:

FIG. 10 is an elevation view of the right side;

FIG. 11 is an elevation view of the left side; and

FIG. 12 is a three-quarters rear perspective view of the right side.

MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The figures show an automatically-cleaning sanitary module 1, e.g. for installing in a public washroom of the type comprising a closed cubicle with access thereto being controlled, e.g. by a payment-operated door.

The module 1 comprises firstly a load-carrying structure 2 having two facing side flanks, i.e. a first side flank 3—referred to herein as the “left” flank—, and a second side flank 4—referred to herein as the “right” flank—, interconnected by a back wall 5 and surmounted by a top wall 6 which, as is explained below, forms a support for the functional members of the module 1. The structure 2 further comprises, opposite from its top wall 6, a stand 7 having legs 8 for securing the module 1 to the floor of a toilet cubicle.

Secondly, the module 1 comprises a toilet bowl 9 mounted on the structure 2 to pivot about an axis 10 by using two stub axles on that axis, namely a first stub axle 11 mounted in the left side flank 3, and a second stub axle 12 mounted in the right side flank 4, to pivot between:

a utilization position in which the bowl 9 extends horizontally, projecting forwards from the structure 2 (FIGS. 1 to 6), this position serving in particular to allow a user to sit on the bowl 9; and

a cleaning position in which the bowl 9 is retracted vertically into the structure (FIGS. 7 to 12), in which position the bowl 9 is ready to be cleaned by being sprayed with water and detergent using a cleaning device which is not described in detail herein since it does not form part of the invention.

Thirdly, the sanitary module 1 comprises a seat back 13 mounted on the structure 2 above the bowl 9 to pivot about an axis 14 on which there are two stub axles, namely a first stub axle 15 mounted in the left side flank 3 and a second stub axle 16 mounted in the right side flank 4, to pivot between:

a utilization position in which the seat back 13 extends substantially vertically between the edges of the flanks 3 and 4, remote from the back wall 5; and

a cleaning position in which the seat back 13 is retracted into the structure 2.

The utilization and cleaning positions of the seat back 13 correspond respectively to the utilization and cleaning positions of the bowl 9, with the respective turning movements thereof on passing from one position to the other being synchronized, as is explained below.

In the utilization position, the seat back 13 closes the structure 2 in part by interconnecting the front edges 17 and 18 of the side flanks 3 and 4. A cover (not shown) placed vertically above the seat back 13 finishes off this closure by covering an opening 19 that extends between the flanks 3 and 4 above the seat back 13, the seat back 13 when in its utilization position co-operating with the cover so that together they form the front wall of the structure 2.

In the cleaning position, the seat back 13 has pivoted through half a turn about its axis 14 and is disposed vertically inside the structure 2 between the flanks 3 and 4.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the seat back 13 presents a top edge 20 forming a curved cutout so as to leave a gap while passing between the two positions in order to enable the bowl 9 to pass freely without any risk of collision.

The sanitary module 1 also comprises a control mechanism 21 for ensuring that the bowl 9 and the seat back 13 move simultaneously from their in-use positions to their cleaning positions, and vice versa.

The mechanism 21 comprises a motor 22 mounted on the top wall 6 of the structure 2 at the top of the left flank 3, and coupled in rotation with the first stub axle 15 on the axis 14 of the seat back 13.

More precisely, beside the left side flank 3, the motor 22 comprises an outlet shaft 23 having fastened thereto a first toothed pulley wheel 24, while the first stub axle 15 on the axis 14 of the seat back 13 carries a second toothed pulley wheel 25 coupled in rotation to the first pulley wheel 24 by means of a toothed belt 26 for synchronous transmission.

The control mechanism 21 further comprises, beside the right side flank 4, a transmission 27 coupling the second stub axle 16 on the axis 14 of the seat back 13 with the second stub axle 12 on the axis 10 of the bowl 9.

More precisely, and as can be seen clearly in FIG. 4, the transmission 27 comprises:

a gearwheel 28 mounted on and secured to the second stub axle 16 on the axis 14 of the seat back 13;

a toothed wheel 29 mounted to rotate on the flank 4 and meshing with the gearwheel 28;

an eccentric 30 secured to the toothed wheel 29, the eccentric 30 being in the form of a rod screwed onto the wheel 29 and having a portion that projects substantially radially from the periphery of the wheel 29;

a crank 31 mounted on and secured to the second stub axle 12 on the axis 10 of the bowl 9; and

a coupling rod 32 interconnecting the eccentric 30 and the crank 31.

Starting from the utilization position, moving towards the cleaning position is performed as follows (an intermediate position between the utilization position and the cleaning position is shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, to which reference is made below).

After detecting a predetermined event (e.g. the most recent user closing the pay-operated door to the toilet cubicle), an electronic control unit (not shown) causes the motor 22 to be powered electrically, thereby driving the pulley wheel 25 by means of the transmission belt 26 to turn in the clockwise direction (as shown in the view of FIG. 7 and as represented in this figure by arrow F1), thus causing the seat back 13 to tilt.

Titling the seat back 13 causes the gearwheel 28 to turn simultaneously in the counterclockwise direction (as shown in the view of FIG. 8, and as represented in this figure by arrow F2). The toothed wheel 29 meshes with the gearwheel 28 and is thus driven clockwise (arrow F3, FIG. 8) causing the eccentric 30 to tilt, thereby in turn moving the connecting rod 32 downwards (arrow F4) and thus turning the crank 31 clockwise (arrow F5). At the end of the movement, the seat back 13 has turned through 180°, while the bowl has turned through 90° (this can be achieved merely by ensuring that the toothed wheel 29 has a diameter that is twice the diameter of the gearwheel 28 and that the crank 31 is of a length equal to the distance between the end of the eccentric 30 and the axis of the toothed wheel 29).

The module also has a safety device 33 serving to ensure that the bowl 9 and the seat back 13 are not caused to tilt while a weight is acting on the bowl 9 (e.g. the weight of a child).

The safety device 33 comprises a sensor 34 having a moving electrical contact that is secured to the left flank 3 of the structure 2, being actuated by a pivotally-mounted lever 35 having a top end 36 placed facing the contact and a bottom end 37 connected to a return spring 38 urging the lever 35 towards a rest position (FIG. 1) in which the top end 36 is spaced apart from the contact.

When a weight exceeding a predetermined threshold value (e.g. 3 kilograms (kg) to 4 kg, corresponding to the weight of a small child) is placed on the bowl 9, the bowl tilts about its own axis 10 causing the lever 35 to pivot against the return spring 38 towards an active position in which its top end 36 actuates the contact of the sensor 34, thereby ensuring that the control unit to which the sensor 34 is connected prevents operation of the mechanism 21 for tilting the bowl 9.

In order to allow the bowl 9 a certain amount of freedom to move about its axis 10 independently of the control mechanism 21, and without forcing the mechanism, the safety device 33 includes a damper system 39 integrated in the control mechanism 21.

This damper system 39 is in the form of a resilient link interconnecting two portions of the connecting rod 32 end to end, namely a top portion 40 connected to the eccentric 30 and a bottom portion 41 connected to the crank 31.

By way of example, the resilient link 39 comprises a spring working in compression interposed between the two portions 40 and 41 of the connecting rod 32, and of stiffness that is selected in such a manner that under its own weight the bowl 9 does not pivot far enough to cause the lever 35 to tilt towards its active position, whereas under the combined weight of the bowl 9 and a predetermined weight placed on the bowl (in practice a weight greater than 3 kg to 4 kg), the bowl pivots about the axis 10 so as to cause the lever 35 to pivot towards its active position, thereby actuating the contact of the sensor 34 and thus preventing the control mechanism 21 from causing the bowl 9 and the seat back 13 to tilt.

Furthermore, and as shown in FIG. 1, the sanitary module 1 comprises a system 42 for passively compensating the weight of the bowl 9, seeking to limit the opposing torque applied about the pivot axis 10 of the bowl 9 when pivoting under drive from the control mechanism 21, in either direction.

The compensation system 42 mounted on the left flank 3 of the structure 2 comprises:

a lever 43 mounted to pivot over the left flank 3 about a pivot axis 44, and coupled to turn with the first stub axle 11 on the axis 10 of the bowl 9; and

a thrust strut 45 comprising a cylinder 46 having a top end mounted to turn relative to the left flank 3, said cylinder having a rod 47 slidably mounted therein with a bottom end mounted to turn on a free end of the lever 43.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the rotary coupling between the lever 43 and the first stub axle 11 on the axis 10 of the bowl 9 is implemented by means of a chain 48 meshing with a first sprocket 49 mounted on the first stub axle 11 on the axis 10 of the bowl 9, and a second sprocket 50 mounted on the axis 44 of the lever 43.

The tension in the chain 48 can be adjusted by means of a tensioner device 51 comprising a sprocket 52 mounted to turn freely on a plate 53 slidably mounted on the left flank 3 of the structure 2 to move perpendicularly to the chain 48.

When the bowl 9 pivots about its axis 10, e.g. while tilting from the utilization position towards the cleaning position (arrow F6, FIG. 7), the bowl 9 acts via the chain 48 (arrow F7) to pivot the lever 43 about its axis 44 (arrow F8), which, by applying traction to the rod 47, causes the thrust strut 45 to be extended (arrow F9), which thrust strut opposes this extension by exerting a return force on the rod 47 having a value that is selected by the person skilled in the art—by appropriately selecting the thrust strut—as a function in particular of the weight of the bowl 9.

The compensation system 42 also operates in the opposite direction, while the bowl 9 is passing from its cleaning position to its utilization position, the thrust strut 45 likewise opposing compression being applied thereto.

As can be seen in FIG. 3 in particular, the sanitary module 1 is also fitted with a dryer device 54 for drying the bowl 9 and the seat back 13.

The dryer device 54 comprises firstly a carriage 55 mounted on the right side flank 4 of the structure 2, said carriage 55 being movable in vertical translation in register with a window 56 formed through the flank 4, between a low position in which the carriage 55 is close to the stand 7 (the position shown in FIG. 3) and a high position (not shown), in which the carriage 55 is close to the top wall 6.

In practice, the window 56 is closed by a pair of brushes (not shown) secured to the sides of the window 56, allowing the carriage 55 to pass between them while simultaneously forming a barrier against splashes caused by water being sprayed during cleaning.

The dryer device 54 further comprises a hose 57 having a first end 58 for connection to an air blower system (not shown), and having a second end 59 opposite to the first end 58 secured to the moving carriage 55 in register with the window 56. As a result, when the bowl 9 and the seat back 13 are in the cleaning position inside the structure 2, the inside of the structure 2 is put into communication with the air blower system.

As can be seen in FIG. 3 in particular, the carriage 55 is fitted with rotary wheels 60 (in particular of the grooved pulley wheel type) that co-operate with two guide rails 61 and 62 mounted on the right side flank 4 of the structure 2 on either side of the window 56.

The dryer device 54 further comprises a carriage drive system comprising a motor 63 having an outlet shaft 64 with a first toothed pulley wheel 65 mounted thereon; a second toothed pulley wheel 66 is rotatably mounted on the right flank 4 of the structure 2 in the proximity of the stand 7, with a toothed synchronizing belt 67 being under tension between the pulley wheels 65 and 66. Movement of the belt 67 under drive from rotation of the first pulley wheel 65 drives the carriage 55 from its low position to its high position, and vice versa.

Thus, when departure of the most recent user has been detected, the electronic control unit begins by causing the seat back 13 and the bowl 9 to tilt towards their cleaning position, as described above. Thereafter, secondly, the electronic control unit causes the seat back 13 and the bowl 9 to be cleaned. Thirdly, the control unit causes electrical power to be delivered both to the motor 63 and to the system for blowing air into the hose 57. The seat back 13 and the bowl 9 are then dried by a laterally-directed sheet of air sweeping thereover upwards and downwards as the carriage 55 moves. This sweeping operation can be repeated as often as necessary, depending on the strength of the air flow generated. Once the drying operation has been completed, with the carriage 55 being returned to its starting position (specifically its low position), the control unit causes the seat back 13 and the bowl 9 to tilt in the opposite direction so as to return to their utilization position, in which the sanitary module 1 is ready to receive the following user.

The above-described sanitary module 1 presents certain advantages.

Firstly, as can be seen from the above description, the motor 22 is coupled to the seat back 13 only: it is via the seat back 13 that the rotary movement of the motor 22 is transmitted to the bowl 9. This ensures that the seat back is functionally integrated in the control mechanism 21. This results in simplification to the drive system of the sanitary module 1 and enables it to be made more compact, since there is no need to provide two distinct transmissions, i.e. one between the motor and the seat back, and the other between the motor and the bowl. In addition, the transmission 27 interposed between the seat back 13 and the bowl 9 ensures that the movements of the seat back 13 and of the bowl 9 are reliably synchronized.

Secondly, the offset position of the dryer device 54 also enables the sanitary module 1 to be made more compact, since in prior art modules (as described in above-mentioned documents FR-2 635 131 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,069), drying is performed by means of a blow nozzle fed with air via a succession of telescopic tubes that engage one in another, thus requiring sufficient room to be provided in the top portion of the structure and in its rear portion for receiving the nozzle and the tubes. 

1. An automatically-cleaning sanitary module comprising: a structure; a toilet bowl pivotally mounted on the structure to pivot about an axis between a utilization position and a cleaning position; a seat back pivotally mounted on the structure above the bowl to pivot about an axis between a utilization position and a cleaning position; and a control mechanism for causing the bowl and the seat back to pass from the utilization position to the cleaning position, and vice versa; wherein the control mechanism comprises: a motor coupled in rotation to the seat back; and a transmission coupling the seat back in rotation to the bowl.
 2. A sanitary module according to claim 1, in which the transmission comprises: a gearwheel secured to the axis of the seat back; a toothed wheel mounted to rotate on the structure and meshing with said gearwheel; an eccentric secured to the toothed wheel; a crank secured to the axis of the bowl; and a connecting rod connecting the eccentric to the crank.
 3. A sanitary module according to claim 1, including a safety device preventing the control mechanism from being actuated when a weight greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold weight is acting on the bowl.
 4. A sanitary module according to claim 3, in which the safety device comprises: a sensor; a lever for actuating said sensor, the lever being movable under the effect of the bowl pivoting about its axis; and a damper system enabling the bowl to move angularly independently of the action of the control mechanism.
 5. A sanitary module according to claim 4, in which the transmission comprises: a gearwheel secured to the axis of the seat back; a toothed wheel mounted to rotate on the structure and meshing with said gearwheel; an eccentric secured to the toothed wheel; a crank secured to the axis of the bowl; and a connecting rod connecting the eccentric to the crank, which connecting rod comprises two portions, namely a top portion connected to the eccentric, and a bottom portion connected to the crank, with the damper system being in the form of a resilient link interconnecting the top and bottom portions.
 6. A sanitary module according to claim 1, including a compensation system for compensating the weight of the bowl.
 7. A sanitary module according to claim 6, in which the compensation system comprises: a lever pivotally mounted on the structure about a pivot axis and coupled in rotation to the axis of the bowl; and a thrust strut having a first end secured to the structure, and a second end secured to one end of the lever.
 8. A sanitary module according to claim 7, in which the lever and the axis of the bowl are coupled in rotation by means of a chain meshing with a first sprocket mounted on the axis of the bowl and with a second sprocket mounted on the axis of the lever.
 9. A sanitary module according to claim 1, including a dryer device for drying the bowl and the seat back.
 10. A sanitary module according to clam 9, in which the dryer device comprises: a carriage mounted on a side flank of the structure, said carriage being movable in vertical translation in register with a window formed through the flank, between a low position and a high position; and a hose having a first end for connection to an air blower system and a second end secured to the carriage that is movable in register with the window.
 11. A sanitary module according to claim 10, in which the movable carriage has rotary wheels co-operating with guide rails mounted on the side flank of the structure on either side of the window.
 12. A sanitary module according to claim 10, in which the dryer device includes a system for driving the carriage, the system comprising: a motor having an outlet shaft; a first pulley wheel secured to the outlet shaft; a second pulley wheel rotatably mounted on the structure; and a belt passing over said pulley wheels and secured to the movable carriage. 